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A Magnificent Monument to Satan Unveiled Outside the Capitol Building in Arkansas

RVA Staff | August 17, 2018

Topics: ACLU, Arkansas, Baphomet, Christianity, First Amendment, Hail Satan, rally, satan, State Senator

An image made in the likeness of the dark lord himself, aka, Lucifer: The Fallen, The Morning Star, The Great Deceiver,  Old Nick, Mayor of Hell, Apollyon, briefly appeared outside the Capitol building in Little Rock, Arkansas, yesterday, and it was magnificent.

The “Satan Went Down to Arkansas” rally, held by the Temple of Satan (bless them), showcased a giant statue of Baphomet – a deity linked to the Knights Templar in the early 14th Century – which they hope to install permanently to live side by side with a controversial statue of the Ten Commandments that currently adorns the grounds of the state Capitol.

The Great Unveiling. Photo by Nick Fish

The statue of Baphomet proposed by the Satanists has been in response to Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert’s successful campaign to place a sculpture of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol. In justifying his decision to support the placement of religious iconography on public property, he said in a Facebook post, “Due process was followed to the letter of the law when the Secretary of State and the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission held a series of open and public meetings to gather input on the placing of the Ten Commandments monument.”

In the same post made yesterday, he also refers to the groups of Satanists and their magnificent statue of Baphomet as “extremists” and called them “profane.” For their part, the Satanists have framed it as a matter of free speech, not one that places any specific value on “satanic” theologies. The co-founder of Satanic Arkansas, who was at the rally yesterday, told US News and World Report that, “if you’re going to have one religious monument up then it should be open to others, and if you don’t agree with that then let’s just not have any at all.” In his opening remarks, Temple of Satan spokesman and co-founder Lucien Greaves thanked Rapert, claiming that without his push for the Christian monument there would be no legal precedent for them to place their own statue. Addressing the crowd, Greaves said, “Baphomet is not an attack on the Ten Commandments. It is an insistence on equality under the law.”

Anti-Satan Protestors. Photo by Lucien Greaves

The issue will now be decided in the courts in what is likely to be a First Amendment case that will have serious ramifications on how the separation of church and state is decided. Earlier this year the Satanist tried to join a case the ACLU already brought against the state of Arkansas, but for reasons unclear the ACLU asked the courts to “bar the intervention.”

Regardless of legal outcomes, the Satanists seem to be winning in the court of public decision. As one commentator on Rapert’s Facebook page put it, “The profane is pretty awesome though. Hail Satan.”

Hail Satan.

Teen Plans “March for Our Guns” Rally in Virginia Beach

RVA Staff | April 5, 2018

Topics: Debate, gun control, March For Our Lives, Parkland Shooting, Pro-Gun Rally, rally, Virginia Beach

A teenager is planning an upcoming “March for Our Guns” rally at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach this month. In an interview with Wavy TV 10 in VB, 15-year-old Aiden Jackson said he was interested in planning the rally after seeing the publicity “March for our Lives” generated nationally. Jackson, a freshman at Ocean Lakes High School, in an on-air interview, said, “When I saw the “March for Our Lives,” I saw a lot of people for gun control. Not every youth believes that. Gun control is not the answer.”

The issue of gun control in the wake of the Parkland Shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 people dead and an equal number wounded, has re-ignited the national debate. Led by the student survivors, the issue has gained national prominence through a series of high profile media appearances all of which culminated in the March for Our Lives rally on March 24 that brought close to a million people to Washington DC.

According to Jackson, one of the reasons he is planning the rally is the fact that “not every youth believes gun control is the answer.” While he did participate in the student-led walkouts in March, he carried a sign with a vastly different message stating that gun control was not the answer. Jackson also said that during the walk-out, another student tore his sign apart. “Someone came up out of the blue, looked at me, read my sign, and ripped my sign, and then the entire school applauded.”

Nonetheless, the VB teen said he was encouraged and received positive feedback from his classmates who thought he was brave to share his contrarian opinion during the walk-out supporting stricter gun control. Jackson, struck a conciliatory tone in his interview inviting people from all sides of the debate to his rally, saying, “I want to invite all the viewers to come along and show your support and really view a different point of the aisle if you are in support of gun control.

The CSA II is Currently Seeking a “State Commander” for Virginia Chapter

David Streever | October 31, 2017

Topics: confederate, Confederate monuments, CSA II The New Confederate States of America, Neo-Confederate rally, rally

The neo-Confederate group CSA II: The New Confederate States of America is trying to increase their presence in Virginia in anticipation of their planned rally on December 9, by appointing a “State Commander”. Only seven have confirmed their attendance as of today, with many expressing worries about counter-protestors, despite the complete lack of violence at the last rally, which cost the city nearly $600,000 in preparation costs.

Screenshot of job post sent in by a reader

The CSA II, led the failed rally in Richmond this past September when the out-of-state group planned a show of force to ‘protect’ Lee Statue. Only seven people showed up to support the CSA II, and their actions in Richmond were met with wide condemnation from city officials and residents. This ad, posted on September 20th via Facebook, closed on October 7 without producing a single candidate, a likely indication that their upcoming rally will also generate negligible local support. No one at CSA II was able to speak to the posting at press time.

*File photo of previous CSA rally by David Streever

Obama Campaigns for Ralph Northam in Richmond

David Streever | October 20, 2017

Topics: Governor's Election, politics, President Obama, rally, Ralph Northam, RVA, Virginia politics

More than 7,000 people filled the Richmond Convention Center last night to see former President Barack Obama and Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam at a rally for Northam’s gubernatorial campaign. It is one of two offseason races and viewed as a referendum on President Trump’s national agenda.  It’s also a high-stakes election for the Commonwealth, before the 2021 redistricting, which would be facilitated by a majority Republican legislature should Northam’s GOP opponent Ed Gillespie win the race.

Standing Room Only

Gillespie, a longtime lobbyist and GOP insider who has never held office, but masterminded the Redistricting Majority Plan (REDMAP), a $30-million campaign that was dissected in Ratf**ked: The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal America’s Democracy. The new book by Salon Editor-in-Chief David Daley, theorizes that Gillespie was part of a successful effort to resist President Obama’s legislative agenda, building a GOP firewall in the House and laying the groundwork for control of the Senate and the presidency of Donald Trump. Strategically, it makes it even more significant that Obama’s visit to Richmond marks the return of the former President to politics.

The rally followed a familiar formula, right down to a soundtrack that included Tom Petty and music one attendee described as “perfect for square dancing.” Local politicians and party officials took turns speaking to the crowd with varying degrees of enthusiasm before statewide candidates rallied the audience with their stump speeches. The intensity of the crowd waxed and waned along with the speakers, culminating in the loudest, most raucous cheers when Northam, the keynote speaker, introduced former President Obama.

Obama ran up the stairs with the characteristic grin and verve that Americans became used to over his eight-year presidency and quickly launched into a positive, high-minded speech that remixed his Yes We Can campaign message with the cautionary tone he’s adopted since President Trump’s victory. He repeated his new slogan “Don’t boo, vote,” speaking to the big concern among Democrats that voter apathy and disillusionment is keeping people from participating in elections.

President Obama Receiving a Rock Star Welcome

He praised Northam’s policies and personality, highlighting the latter with his military record. “Ralph’s whole life has been about service to others. While he was a cadet at VMI, his fellow cadets elected him president. Even as a young man, they trusted him to do the right thing,” he said. “They held him to a higher standard. Isn’t that what we want in our leaders? Isn’t that what we want in someone we elect? Honesty, integrity, putting others before yourself. That’s the way Ralph has been his whole life.”

He also addressed Gillespie directly on his campaign advertising without saying his name, bringing up the MS-13 ads that sought to tie Northam to the international crime syndicate. Although Gillespie has acknowledged that Virginia has no sanctuary cities, his ad claimed that Northam supported MS-13, and President Trump doubled-down on the claim, alleging that Northam was “fighting for” MS-13. “Ralph’s opponent doesn’t really think highly of Virginia. The fact is that crime and illegal immigration are the lowest that they’ve been in decades,” he said, before claiming that Gillespie was being disingenuous. “He’s using fear to get votes. But that won’t protect kids. It won’t clean up the environment. It won’t protect your health care. Here’s what I know. If you win a campaign by dividing people, you won’t be able to be governor.”

Although redistricting represents one of the most pressing topics for the Democratic Party, President Obama saved this issue until near the end of his 45-minute speech.  “We shouldn’t have politicians deciding our voters, we should have voters deciding our politicians,” he said, invoking a populist tone.

President Obama was preceded by a who’s who of Virginia politics, including Congressmen Donald McEachin and Bobby Scott, Lt. Gov. candidate Justin Fairfax, incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring, outgoing Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. Northam was the final speaker before President Obama, and sat to his side as the former President spoke to the crowd.

Mayor Levar Stoney

When Northam spoke, he compared Gillespie’s campaign to that of then-candidate Trump’s. “We saw a campaign in 2016 based on bigotry, hatred, and fear. We’re seeing policies come out of D.C. like the travel ban, reversing DACA, pulling out of the Paris accord, things that are totally un-American. Unfortunately my opponent Gillespie is cut from the same cloth as Trump. He is a lobbyist from D.C given power.We cannot accept that this is the new normal. We’re going to get back on the offense and stop playing so much defense.”

Northam and McAullife

Before introducing President Obama, he ended his speech on a positive note. “By 2030, we have a great opportunity to have 30 percent of our energy come from renewable energy. We can make it happen. People tell me they want streets without guns. We can make that happen.” Northam concluded with, “We live in a diverse society, we should be inclusive. It shouldn’t matter the color of your skin, your sexual orientation, your religion. We welcome all to the Commonwealth,” talking about some of the basic pillars of the Democratic party, and asking for a commitment. “Are you ready to fight with me?”

The polls have narrowed from a comfortable lead for Northam to a single-point victory for Gillespie, but Gov. McAuliffe, speaking earlier in the night, was optimistic. “Four years ago, just about this time, Obama campaigned for me when I was running for governor. You worked your heart and soul out to get us elected and I want to say thank you. We broke a forty-year trend to win the governor’s office and we’re going to do it again with Ralph Northam,” he said, predicting a McAuliffe win.

Gov. McAuliffe defended his record and promised more of the same from Northam, listing economic accomplishments and actions against discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, and race. “I own the record for the most vetoes in history,” he said, referencing discriminatory legislation he has refused to sign. “I told the legislature that if you send me bills that limit the rights of women, LGBT people, that put more guns in our society, harm the environment, I will veto the bill. I restored the rights of returning citizens to make them feel like real citizens again. The Republicans sued me twice, but that didn’t bother me because I was working to restore rights.”

Governor Terry McAuliffe

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney used his turn to ask voters to come together and make a choice, highlighting the stakes of the race. “We have 18 days left. We can go backwards or forwards. There are those out there that seek to divide us. The Gillespie team seeks to divide us. We can tell them that our voice matters more than the NRA. Our voice matters more than Donald Trump. We have a choice. Democracy is made of people. It’s made of good elected officials.”

The rally seemed to be a successful effort to inject excitement and energy into Northam’s campaign. But more importantly, it was also an attempt to recruit some of the young voters that voted for Northam’s challenger, Tom Perriello in the primary. Thousands lined up for admission, with early birds arriving at 7 a.m. for an event that began at 5 p.m. Many of the attendees were drawn by President Obama, one of the most popular presidents in US history, and said his endorsement had made them consider Northam. “I’ll vote for Northam,” said one woman who asked that we not use her name. “Whoever Obama told me to vote for, they got it. It’d be hard, but I’d go in there and vote for Trump if he told me to!”

Young People Sharing the Stage with Obama and Northam

Some attendees hadn’t really considered Northam before the event. “I’m here because somebody gave me a free ticket,” said Eric Torres. “I’m here to see Obama. After this rally, after hearing Obama speak, I’ll probably vote for Northam.”

Others came for Northam, citing personal traits and redistricting concerns. “I’m here to support Ralph Northam and maybe to see Obama,” said Tracy Bowers, a lifelong Richmonder. “I support Northam because he’s a good, decent, kind person. I feel like I can trust him — he has a moral and ethical code that I appreciate. I think he cares about us.”

Bowers was familiar with Gillespie’s role in REDMAP and was generally critical of the district system in Virginia. “It’s not representative. It’s a horrible system,” she said, expressing a sentiment that President Obama would later share.

Another person at the rally disparaged districting as an elitist system. “I think districting in general defines communities based on ethnicity and poverty levels. It divides communities. Ultimately, it only benefits leaders,” said Andrew LaFontaine, who described President Obama as an inspirational figure and a leader. “The turnout today speaks volumes to the fact that people still look to Obama as a leader.”

Rally Goers. Photo by David Streever

Some voters had an even stronger reaction; one woman brought a friend over to relay her experience. “I nearly passed out,” she said, talking about how she felt seeing President Obama. “I had to put my phone down, I had to take a break.”

Others were a little more restrained. “Of course I was excited,” another woman said, shrugging before she left the convention hall.

The statewide elections will be held Nov. 7. Prospective voters can check their registration or lookup their polling place on the Virginia Department of Elections site.

*Nidhi Sharma contributed to this report. All other photos by Landon Shroder. Cover photo by Branden Wilson

 

Virginia Politics Sponsored by F.W. Sullivans

 

Tempers flare and protests erupt during Trump’s rally at RIR Wednesday night

Amy David | October 15, 2015

Topics: black lives matter, Donald Trump, politics, rally, richmond raceway

News of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump’s rally served as an interesting addition to midterm week at VCU.
[Read more…] about Tempers flare and protests erupt during Trump’s rally at RIR Wednesday night

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